South Korea Highlights

9 Days | Feel the Seoul of South Korea on this adventure that hits all the highlights

4.6 out of 5 based on 16 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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EUR €2,322
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A melting pot of natural wonder, culinary delights and mesmerising cityscapes, South Korea is proving to be a destination well worth adding to your bucket list! On this nine-day exploration, you’ll discover Korea’s Demilitarised Zone, eat ‘til you drop at an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant, hike through the amazing scenery of Seorksan Mountain, wander through the colourful Gamcheong Culture Village, spend a night in a traditional hanok house and discover the charisma of Busan from seaside Haedong Temple to the stories of Haeyno divers.

Trip overview

Map of South Korea Highlights including Korea, Republic Of
Start
Seoul, South Korea
Finish
Seoul, South Korea
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
South Korea
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
CJSK
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Spend a fascinating day exploring the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on a guided tour. Discover why this intriguing place has been awash with tension and political pressure since the Korean War.
  • Take a street food tour of the renowned Gwangjang markets in Seoul, feasting on bite-sized delights, and indulge in an authentic all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ experience for your final night.
  • Explore the seaside Sokcho and discover the island village of Abai, home to hundreds of North Korean refugees who settled here during the war.
  • Spend a night in a traditional Hanok house in the Andong Hahoe folk village, walking past the traditional homes to imagine the country in its past life.
  • Visit coastal Haedong Temple, explore the colourful Gamcheong Culture Village and then meet a Haeyno diver in Busan for an insider’s view of this predominantly female profession.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

Is this trip right for you?
  • A good degree of fitness is recommended for this trip as a lot of walking is involved. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2023

Map of South Korea Highlights including Korea, Republic Of

Inclusions

Meals

4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle, Public Bus, Metro, Taxi, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel (7nts), Hanok (1nt)

Activities
  • Seoul - Gwangjang market
  • Seoul - Naksan night view over the city
  • Seoul - Gyeongbukgung Palace
  • Seoul - Demilitarized Zone (DMZ/South Korea)
  • Seoul - Bukchon Hanok Village
  • Sokcho - Seoraksan Mountain
  • Sokcho - Daepo Fish market
  • Sokcho - Island village of Abai
  • Sokcho - North Korea refugee family visit
  • Andong - Andong folk village
  • Busan - Haedong Temple
  • Busan - Gamcheon Art Village
  • Busan - Haenyeo (female diver) visit

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. The trip will start at 4pm on Day 1
2. A single supplement is bookable for all nights except Day 5, subject to availability.
3. Although this trip starts and finishes in Seoul, we highly recommend you to spend some extra time exploring this fascinating city and its neighbouring regions. Please consult your booking agents if you would like to book additional nights.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 based on 16 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Glenn · Traveled September 2023
This could have been a good trip but the tour leader Jessie constantly ignored requests to slow down for a few people, People did get lost. Little time to take even a couple of photos before Jessie sped on in crowded areas around corners. Included meals were poor quality in most cases. While I would rate other Intrepid tours 4-5 stars this was 3 star at best, and very expensive.
Review submitted 14 Sep 2023

Barbara · Traveled August 2023
This trip was excellent from the booking to the destinations and the guide and driver just the best. The entire experience was packed with knowledge and adventures. To recall over and over. Our guide was great. So good. all of i
Review submitted 21 Aug 2023

Leo · Traveled August 2023
Sunny (Sun Jang) was truly special! We have been on trips all over the world, this is 12th. We find Sunny as the most genuinely kind and accommodating. His knowledge of not only Koreas history and culture but how it flows with other parts of different cultures and history is exceptional. We love him, he’s the best! He said he doesn’t want us to remember this trip because of him rather because of the region or this country. This is hard because he really made the tour!
Review submitted 24 Aug 2023

Tabitha · Traveled June 2023
South Korea was incredible! Seoul is an amazing city but I also loved seeing other parts of the country, and spending a night in a traditional village was such a great experience. Looking into North Korea at the DMZ and the stunning scenery we saw while hiking at Seoraksan Mountain were also some of the many highlights. Definitely do this trip if you get the chance.
Review submitted 08 Jul 2023

Melanie · Traveled June 2023
This is a new trip for Intrepid but despite the change in itinerary we had a fabulous time. There is minimal English in Korea so we relied heavily on our wonderful tour guide Yung. We learnt a lot about the country, its challenges, culture and food. Be prepared for an exhausting whirlwind tour!
Review submitted 01 Jul 2023
South Korea Highlights
From
EUR €2,322